Southeastern Louisiana University is happy to welcome you to our campus! We hope the information here guides you during your arrival to begin your studies in the United States. The International Services Office and the Multicultural and International Student Affairs Office also works together to provide you the best experience possible as a student at Southeastern. Welcome!
Once you are accepted to Southeastern, there are several steps you must follow to receive the appropriate documents that allow you to enter the United States to begin your life as a Southeastern Lion. The following information is intended to guide you through those beginning steps. Of course, once you are here you will need to maintain your non-immigrant status or have questions about general immigration issues. The International Services Office is happy to assist you with any questions you may have. You may also find helpful information at Study in the States
When you sign a lease or housing contract, you should also receive information about which utilities you will need to arrange yourself. You must set up the utilities that are not included in your monthly rent.
If required, you may call these utility providers to set up the service:
Hammond is a fairly spread out city with little public transportation. Most individuals that live here own their own vehicles. However, the city of Hammond does offer a bus service. Information on this can be found at http://www.hammond.org/?page_id=5717.
After receiving your visa, there is still a lot to do before you arrive. Below are some questions that you may want to ask yourself to help you prepare. You may also download and print a Pre-Arrival Checklist to help you stay organized.
Have you received your I-20 or DS-2019 and obtained your F-1 or J-1 student entry
visa?
Have you made arrangements for housing on or off campus?
Have you arranged your travel plans so that you arrive at Southeastern during business
hours and early enough to attend the orientation programs?
Do you have a small amount of U.S. currency to cover the initial expenses of your
arrival (buses, taxi, meals, etc.)?
Do you have enough US dollars to cover the expenses of settling into an apartment
in Hammond, i.e. temporary housing, deposit on an apartment, telephone service, etc.?
If you are bringing over $10,000 in cash to the United States, make sure you declare
it on your customs form; otherwise the Customs officials have the right to confiscate
the money and charge a fee.
Have you contacted the ISO to inform them of your arrival date and housing accommodations?
Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans is the main airport most people arrive at in Louisiana to get to Southeastern in Hammond. The airport is roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Hammond. There are several ways to get from the airport to Southeastern:
When planning your stay in Hammond, it is important to consider all the costs including rent and utilities, food (or room and board), health care and insurance, transportation, cell phone, etc.
Southeastern utilizes BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. to make refunds easier after you pay your tuition and fees. Please go to this link to find out more. You may receive an email from BMTX, Inc to help select your refund preference in the coming weeks.
While it is never a good idea to travel with large amounts of cash, you will need some U.S. Currency or a credit card when you enter the U.S. for getting to the airport to Hammond, for food and groceries, setting up your room/apartment, and unexpected expenses.
Most people set up their bank accounts in their first days in Hammond. It may take a few days before large amounts of funding are available so be sure to have cash or a credit card for initial expenses. Note that individuals entering the U.S. with cash exceeding $10,000 must complete a Currency Report Form in addition to a Declaration Form.
If you are receiving a salary, stipend, or scholarship funds you may have federal and/or state taxes withheld from your pay (14%-30%) unless you benefit from a tax treaty. U.S. regulations for non-residents are complicated and will be address during orientation, including information about applying for a U.S. Social Security Number. Additional information about U.S. tax obligations can be found here
When looking for a bank, shop around a bit since fees can vary and be sure to select a bank that has ATM’s near you. Ask your friends for recommendations. Always inquire about no fee accounts and special offers.
Most banks issue a debit card with the opening of a bank account. A debit card not only looks like, but functions like a credit card; the main difference being that charges are directly taken from your bank account. Paying with a debit card can help you budget your expenses since you must always be careful you have enough funds in your account to cover any charges.
You need a credit history to get a credit card, so initially it might be difficult to obtain one. Many students and scholars will use their debit card as an alternative before they have established a credit history. Once you have begun to establish credit, your credit card company will periodically raise your credit limit and it will not necessarily correspond to what you can actually afford. That is why, you should be very careful while spending with credit cards. U.S. credit card companies offer greatly varying arrangements – from cards that require security deposits, a membership fee, and high monthly interest rates (APR), to cards with no membership fee, and low to no interest rates at all. Once you have established some credit history by owning a card for six months or more, you may wish to shop around or call your credit card company and ask for a better arrangement such as lower interest rates or no membership fee. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission provides consumers helpful information about choosing and using credit cards. You will need a U.S. Social Security Number to apply for a credit card.
The United States boasts the greatest medical expertise and the finest clinics in the world. If you are sick or injured during your studies in the US and you are treated in a US hospital, you can be certain that you are receiving some of the finest care in the world. Health care in the US is provided by private hospitals and clinics. Most US citizens have medical insurance, which is generally provided by the individual’s employer and extends to his or her immediate family. Some insurance plans are provided by the federal or state governments, labor unions, or individuals. As health care costs have mounted in recent years, employers have increasingly asked employees to contribute. About half of all Americans with private health insurance are covered
by self-insured plans, and each of these plans has its own plan design. International students studying in the US for more than a few months should consider a fully comprehensive international medical insurance plan from a provider with direct experience and understanding of the US health care system.
All non-immigrant international students in F-1 and J-1 student visa status are required to purchase and maintain adequate medical health insurance coverage while they are enrolled at Southeastern, and the medical health insurance policy must meet Southeastern’s medical health insurance requirements. Therefore, these students will be automatically charged for and enrolled in the Southeastern’s endorsed plan with AMA & Associates. However, students may choose an alternate medical health insurance plan as long as it meets the minimum requirements listed and an waiver request is submitted by deadline which is no later than the first day of class each semester.
Southeastern’s Health Center is located on campus and offers services to students for minor illnesses and injuries, physical exams, women’s and men’s health, immunizations, prescriptions and other services. For information on the health center, please visit their site.
If you are at the U.S. port of entry clearing U.S. immigration and the CBP officer has questions that can be answered by the International Services Office (ISO), ask the officer if they would like to call the ISO for confirmation. During office hours, you can call the office directly or the general office number, 985-549-2360 or 985-549-2614. After hours call the Southeastern Police Department at 985-549-2222 who will immediately call the ISO director or coordinator.